Today, we celebrate the birthday of the legendary runner, Steve Prefontaine. Even though he died tragically at the age of 24, he held seven American records from 2000 meters to the 10,000meters. A notable performance was during the 1972 Olympics in Munich where he contended for the Olympic gold medal in the 5000 meter and finished 4th behind Lasse Viren. This was a gutsy and gritty run.
While not having the quintessential runner’s build, he compensated for his shortcomings by being a “front runner” and running with guts, intensity, and determination. These attributes highlight what it takes to be a champion, even when you do not start out as one.

A great athlete elevates his sport. Additionally, their performance transcends the sport and can be universally applied to different areas of life.

Below are a few of his quotes. As you read them, reflect on the following questions

Which one of these do I like the most?

Does it apply to more than one area of functioning in my life?

“Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, ‘I’ve never seen anyone run like that before.’

“A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts, who can punish himself into exhausting pace, and then at the end, punish himself even more.”